Top 10 Bachelor Degrees in Demand for 2013

Those graduating from college in 2013 are already getting good news: employers are reporting they plan to hire 13% more college graduates than they did in 2012, according to a new survey.

“The Job Outlook for the College Class of 2013” report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) also found that half the employers surveyed planned to increase the number of college graduates they hire. Only one out of every 10 companies reported a plan to cut back on their number of employees.

“New grads with business, engineering and computer science degrees are the most sought after at the bachelors and master’s degree levels,” the report stated.

The List of Top Degrees Sought By Employers

The NACE survey was conducted between July and September of 2011 and included responses from 244 businesses. According to the report, jobs related to business, engineering and computer science dominated the list of most in-demand degrees. The list:

Finance

Computer and Information Science

Accounting

Business Administration/Management

Mechanical Engineering

Management Information Systems

Electrical Engineering

Computer Engineering

Marketing/Marketing Management

Economics

Business Degrees Dominate the Top 10

The NACE report places business degrees at the forefront of the most in-demand degrees. Half of the top 10 listed is business-related.

Finance. A degree in finance prepares professionals for a number of jobs. Some work in the finance offices of major corporations, while others work providing financial advice to individuals. Many who earn an undergraduate in finance go on to get a Master’s of Business Administration.

Accounting. After earning a bachelor’s degree, accountants typically become Certified Public Accountants and work for individuals or in the finance department of companies, ensuring all financial records are accurate and all taxes are paid.

Business Administration. Those who earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration are preparing themselves for a leadership role within a business operation. Many move on to attain a Master’s in Business Administration.

Marketing. Marketers generate interest in a product and find the most effective channels of reaching the target audience. A bachelor’s degree prepares you for an entry-level position in a marketing department, working with other teams such as creative, sales and finance.

Economics. A degree in economics prepares you to take on a job studying the production and distribution of money and resources within an economy. More than half of all economists work for local, state or federal government.

What Industries Are Hiring For Certain Degrees

Certain industries often target those who hold certain degrees. This does not mean other industries do not also have jobs for those with certain types of degrees, only that some industries are better bets than others to find a job.

In the case of those with a bachelor’s in finance, for example, the NACE study found that food and beverage manufacturing is a big recruiter. Other industries seeking finance majors include the government and financial, insurance and real estate companies.

Accountants also are sought by the food and beverage industry and by government. But the largest employment home for those with an accounting degree is the accounting services companies.

Finance companies, insurance agencies and real estate corporations are all searching for those with a degree in business administration. Government and wholesale trade companies also are seeking those with business administration skills.

Basic Steps to Follow in Resume Writing

The basic rule when seeking any job post-graduation is that you want to stick out from the crowd – but only in a good way. One of the best tips is to use the keywords found in a job description within the copy of your resume, ideally near the top. This will help you catch the eye of human resources personnel who are going through the resumes, as well as the software they may be using to detect certain phrases.

A simple mistake to avoid is listing your work experience chronologically. You’ll want to make sure the relevant experience and skills the potential employer is looking for are featured high on the resume. Don’t make people search your resume for the important information.

A few other basic things to keep in mind: don’t mess around with strange fonts, double and triple check all contact information, address any time gaps on your resume and always use a basic format. Don’t make people work hard to see the information about you.